Authorities detain, release Arizona man in connection with Guthrie abduction

An Arizona man was briefly detained, then released overnight by Pima County police in connection with the abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC TODAY Show co-host Savannah Guthrie.

The person detained, Carlos Palazuelos, said he was detained by police after he engaged with officers who appeared to be tailing him in his vehicle. While Palazuelos was in custody, authorities reportedly searched his home, in the border community of Rio Rico, about an hour south of Tuscon, where Guthrie was abducted from her home. 

Pima County Sheriff’s Department declined to comment on reports of the release when asked overnight by NBC News.

Palazuelos told authorities that he is a DoorDash driver and doesn’t remember whether he delivered anything to Guthrie’s house. 

His being detained and his house being searched followed the FBI on Tuesday afternoon releasing door camera video of a masked person outside of Guthrie's home at about the time she was abducted. 

Palazuelos also said agents told him he looked like the person seen in the security camera footage.